Decorating Diva: Welcoming summer, room by room

Jessica Padykula is a freelance writer and editor in Toronto, Canada covering a wide range of topics for several online lifestyle publications. She is a regular contributor for SheKnows, covering travel, style, relationships, health and...

Summer home decor tips

Welcome to Decorating Diva, where every week we share fresh, fun ways to update your home and spice up your living space! Whether it’s sunny and warm where you live or you’re still patiently waiting through bouts of cold rain and unseasonably low temperatures to make way for sunshine, now is the perfect time to get your home in shape for summer. Because trust us, it will be here before you know it! We plan to welcome our favorite season with open arms (and fruity cocktail in hand) and we recommend you do the same. Here’s how.

Summer in the bedroom

Winter was all about creating a warm, cozy atmosphere, whereas summer means lightening – and brightening up. Replace heavy drapery with something sheer and breezy and trade your heavy comforter for something much lighter. "Even just looking at a lot of heavy material makes you hot," McHolm says. She also suggests opting for crisp, white sheets, which look summery, and adding pillows in fun, bold colors to further welcome warm weather.

Next, think about where you can add fresh flowers – medium-size Mason jars filled with wild flowers like daisies make for a relaxed, summery vibe. Place small groupings on your dresser or on end tables.

Aroma is also critical – you want everything to smell fresh, so open the windows and make sure to not only clean the glass, also clean the screens to let the breeze in.

Summer outdoors

One of the best things about summer is being able to entertain outdoors, so it's best to be prepared for the patio parties to come. This season is all about bold colors, so look for outdoor decor items in yellow, orange, blue and green. But don't forget about white – a classic shade that always has a place on your summer patio.

In anticipation of a house or patio full of guests McHolm suggests stocking up on a variety of paper napkins. They're inexpensive, fun and can set a theme very easily, she says. Having a few sets of colorful plastic plates on hand is also a good idea so there's no risk of breakage (and shards of glass in the patio).

You can also add color with vibrant placemats, candle holders and a centerpiece featuring whatever's in bloom. And if you really want to impress guests opt for one of summer's biggest decor trends – fire features. Tiki torches and urban fire pits make a great addition to any outdoor party, McHolm says.

However you decide to welcome summer into your home, remember: The most important thing is to have fun!